AnuOluwapo Adelakun: Getting Ready For the 2015 Elections

It is no news that 2015 is a year most Nigerians have mixed feelings about. While some are hesitant to complete the remaining days of 2014 just so that 2015 never happens, others look forward to a year of a much needed change. Some others are planning and scheming in line with political ambitions whether honest or dishonest. Every man for himself, God for us all.

While I do not intend to cause panic or set rolling an explosion of various views,(kindly direct that traffic elsewhere for now biko) I do have a message for the Nigerian folk. My fellow Nigerians, please feel free to take notes.

It is a wise man who locks his door when he hears the whipping of a masquerade coming from a distance. What are your plans ahead of the coming elections? Let me suggest the following:

Food Is there a better time to tell you to stock your homes with food? Begin to build barns and silos like people who have been warned about a great famine(Abeg don’t over do it o) But seriously, the fuel subsidy uprising caught a lot of us unawares. I had only beans in my kitchen. I became very creative making all sorts of delicacies from beans. From Akara to moimoi, gbegiri, jollof beans, you name it! It was terrible and of course the natural consequence of having too much beans followed. Another reason stocking your homes with enough food is important is that it would hopefully help you resist the temptation to sell your votes in exchange for expired rice.

To Your Tents O Israel My grandmother always says that it is a farmer who wants to steal yams that remains on the farm when others have retired for the day.(I don’t know where she gets her proverbs). During the election period, it is wise to have a curfew if you don’t have one already. While I understand that a whole lot of us have crazy work schedules or spend hours in traffic trying to get home after a long day, there are some children, siblings, spouses, neighbours and loved ones who behave like evil spirits galavanting around the town or neighbourhood during ungodly hours. You see, Rape and other sexual violence, kidnap and a host of other evils lurk around dark corners, and some large political gatherings. Please protect yourselves and your rights.

Bridle Your Tongue We all know that the Nigerian constitution makes provision for the right to freedom of speech but we must be realistic. Nigerian politics is not very tolerant when it comes to rivalry. Whatever side you choose be on, mind how you air your opinions and where you discuss your views. We’ve heard stories of how insensitivity while discussing political issues have led to ugly brawls. If you can’t air your views without causing wahala, please we don’t want to hear “Pim”

Weddings & Souvenirs Congrats to all lovebirds walking down the aisle in 2015. My very candid advice to you is to check out the elections schedule and choose a date prayerfully and wisely. While we do not want any interruptions in our owambe schedules, we want you to enjoy your day without any pre or post election tensions in the air. May God help us o. On the other hand for those planning to give out umbrellas or brooms as souvenirs at parties next year, GRAB YOUR COPY NOW before they finish using them up for campaigns.

Register, Collect Your Voters Card; Come Out & Vote Beyond all the wishing for change and blasting of our leaders, you and I as Nigerians have our civic duties to perform. Register, collect your voters card and please come out and cast your votes even if you think it doesn’t count.

A free and fair election begins with you and I. Let us prepare properly ahead of the 2015 elections. I wish you all safety, peace of mind and good change.

About AnuOluwapo Adelakun

AnuOluwapo Adelakun is a passionate girl child and women rights advocate working on issues affecting marginalized girls and women in Nigeria. She's a UNICEF Voices of Youth alumni, Carrington Youth Fellow of the US Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria, US Consul General Award Receipient, UN WOMEN/Empower Women Global Champion for Change and 2017 Chevening Scholar who grooms and mentors girl leaders across the globe. For more on her Chevening journey follow @thescholarsdiary on Instagram.

I cackled wildly at your use of Naija proverbs (“It is a wise mans who locks his door when he hears the sound of masquerades in the distance”, “It is the farmer who wants to steal yams that stays back at the farm when others have left”). Looks like your grandma’s legacy has taken root for another generation. 🙂

Nicely written, Anu and as for your story about the beans… No be small something. And there was very useful advice behind the humorous points (you funny, sha).

On another but related subject, BN, I actually clicked on this post because I genuinely want to stay updated about the coming elections. Realize that you’re not Vangaurd News but I’ve been noticing a recent tilt towards more political news reporting on this site, in advance of the 2015 madness and I’m very impressed. Please keep at it.

Good writing Anu, and great points! 🙂 I finally registered to vote on Monday, and though I’m worried about how the elections will run next year, or who to even vote for, but I hope to be a part of the process- whether my vote counts or not. Your grandma’s proverbs lol funny but so relevant. Let’s all try our best to be safe in these “one kind” times.